Develop fragile Bay Point Island? We’re smarter than this, aren’t we? | Letters
The idea of an “ecotourism” resort on Bay Point might have made sense in the 1970s, when we didn’t know, nor care much, about the environmental footprint we left. The Earth was resilient and it could take everything we dished out, or so we thought at the time.
We now know, beyond any doubt that this is not true. The Earth has been damaged and most of us agree it’s because we’ve been incinerating fossil fuels for more than 100 years. We can see the rapidly escalating effects of the one-two punch of climate change and sea level rise along the Carolina coast, from the constant flooding in Charleston, to the devastating rainstorms that occur every couple of years within 200 miles of us, to the shrinking size of Hunting Island.
As for Bay Point itself, time-elapsed photos prove the dynamic nature of the barrier island with its constantly rearranged coastline and ever-receding, salt-singed forest. One wonders if they can even get the thing built before storms wreck their efforts.
There are plenty of economic opportunities for tourism in Beaufort County, as our $1 billion annual impact shows. Let’s avoid extremely risky endeavors for the sake of a quick buck. Greed rewards only a few and fleetingly. Stewardship is enjoyed by many over countless lifetimes. Let’s demonstrate how much we’ve learned and how smart we’ve become by resisting the impulse to develop Bay Point Island.
Lisa Allen
Lady’s Island
Turn those under 65 loose to open the economy
I’m getting a little, no a lot, sick and tired of our governments — national, state and local — stepping all over our God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, especially the pursuit of happiness.
Do they think we are all stupid and can’t think for ourselves? All of the so-called experts on this pandemic seem to be scoring zero on their predictions.
When you look at the statistics, the greatest losses of life due to COVID-19 have been in retirement homes and nursing homes, people aged 70 and over. OK, I am 81 and have been hunkered down with limited trips to the grocery store, no doctor appointments, church on the internet, Bible study on Zoom and no social contacts for the past months.
So, how does America open, and I mean really open? We need to come back to segregation … no, not racial segregation, but age segregation.
I am picking on myself and everyone else over 65.
We need to stop this 6-foot separation nonsense for healthy people and open the bars and restaurants of our country for everyone under 65. Yes, card those who enter and if over 65 refuse entry. The restaurant and bar businesses need this to stay alive.
Drink up “youngsters”! This will work. Bury the fears ... ”cheers”. As far as the 65-plus age group, we will follow in due time, but for now we need the millions of younger, healthy citizens to take the lead.
Michael McNally
Callawassie Island
Time to reopen Hilton Head skate park
What Is going on with our Hilton Head Island parks? Why is the Bristol Sports Arena closed?
There is nowhere to skate or skateboard on the island. If attractions, churches and miniature golf courses can open, why not the skate park?
Give people more space instead of having them all at the beaches. We need more ways to avoid the irresponsible crush of unmasked tourists invading our home.
David Neff
Hilton Head Island
Volunteer to be a Beaufort County poll worker
June 9 is the Republican Primary to select the candidates for federal state and local elections who will be on the ballot for the General Election on Nov. 3.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Most polling stations need about four managers whose job is to assist voters by:
▪ Verifying voter credentials.
▪ Issuing ballots to voters.
▪ Answering questions about using the voting machines.
You as a volunteer are paid $165 for the day. The clerk is the lead poll manager who can answer your questions. Also, this year because of COVID-19, all workers will be provided masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and disposable cotton swabs for making touchscreen selections.
Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are also eligible to work as poll managers.
Need is great on Hilton Head and if there are not enough managers to staff current polling places, polling places will be closed or consolidated.
Thus, if your are interested contact the Beaufort County Board of Elections at https://noexcusesc.com/apply-to-be-a-poll-manager/. Complete the Poll Worker Interest Form. You will also need to view virtually two training briefings.
If you have questions, call the Beaufort Board of Elections at 843-255-6900.
Ruth Wilwerding
Hilton Head Island
They helped rescue dog from boat yard
We wish to thank the three security officers of Hilton Head Plantation and Austin Turner of Tacos Sold, who rescued our Irish terrier, Corky, from the locked boat yard at Skull Creek.
All showed compassion and concern for a dog in distress and went out of their way to see Corky was safely removed from danger.
Mary Ellen and Bill Harkins
Hilton Head Island
Let everyone read what they choose to read
Recent letters have complained that the Packet contains too many articles from “notoriously prejudiced publications such as the New York Times” while also denigrating the press in general for not recognizing the extraordinary leadership of the president.
The writers exemplify a recent phenomenon in American politics, where one’s political affiliation determines what is acceptable as a reliable source of news and dismisses anything that doesn’t fit their world view as endorsed by Fox News.
This false equivalency is driven by the president’s claims of fake news directed toward any source not sufficiently subservient to his view of himself.
A healthy democracy depends on an informed citizenry, that is the role of the fourth estate. When citizens refuse to be informed because they are told not to trust respectable news sources the consequences endanger us all, as we are experiencing with this administrations response to the pandemic, and how even a public crisis has been weaponized to divide us.
As a point of reference, Pulitzer Prizes: New York Times, 125; Washington Post, 69; Fox News, 0. I choose rigorous investigative journalism (and I applaud the Packet for its reporting) over conspiracy theories, lies and propaganda, which drives this president’s every action.
I support everyone’s right to read or not read whatever they choose. But it is not acceptable to censure what I want to read.
Virginia Cruz
Bluffton
What we can do to help save farms
Thank you for your recent article about South Carolina’s vanishing rural landscape, which is at risk of disappearing altogether unless preservation of critical farmland becomes a priority.
Currently we have 137 working farms in Beaufort County. What can individual citizens do to help preserve these and other farms in our area?
For one thing, it’s crucial that we as voters continue to support the Rural and Critical Lands Program, as we have done since 2002.
In addition, we can familiarize ourselves with the work of the Coastal Conservation League and the American Farmland Trust.
And individually, we can vigorously support our local farmers markets.
Remember, “No Farms, No Food” is more than a slogan: it’s a grim reality that we can work together to prevent.
Cassandra King
Beaufort